Device for dispensing lump sugar



y 1967 B. D. DORE 3,319,825

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LUMP SUGAR Filed March 14, 1966 Invenfor m BENNELLI DONDI DORE United States Patent M 3,319,825 DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LUMP SUGAR Benelli Dondi Dore, Bologna, Italy, assignor to Carlo E. Valente, Milan, Italy Filed Mar. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 533,990 Claims. (Cl. 221-186) This invention relates generally to a food dispensing machine and more particularly to an improved lump sugar dispensing machine which is coin operated.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a lump sugar dispensing device of the character described which is operable for dispensing individual lumps of sugar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lump sugar dispensing device of the character described having a hopper accessible from exterior of the machine for filling the same.

Other objects of the invention reside in providing a sugar dispensing device of the character described which is very economical to manufacture; which is compact and relatively light weight; and which can be serviced readily and easily.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing disclosure in which a preferred embodiment has been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It is contemplated that minor variations in the size, construction and arrangement of the several parts thereof may occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the sugar dispensing device embodying the invention, portions being shown in section to illustrate details thereof.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through said device along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the device with portions thereof broken away to show details.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 the lump sugar dispensing device embodying the invention is designated generally by the reference character 10. The device includes a bottom wall or base 12 which supports a cabinet or casing 14 thereon which encloses the operating mechanisms of the dispensing device. The cabinet 14 has a front wall 16 in which is provided a coin slot 17 communicating with chute 18 which is connected to a coin box 19 shown generally. The coin box 19, as illustrated generally, is intended to include conventional and well-known structure which is electrically connected as represented by dotted line designation 20 to the electric motor 22 supported on the base 12 by the motor mount 24. Since the specific mechanism for energizing the motor 22 may vary within wide limits, it is deemed unnecessary to show specific mechanism other than in the generally schematic form illustrated in FIG. 3.

Although not specifically shown, the casing or cabinet 14 can be separated from the base 12 so that the operating mechanisms of the device can be readily serviced.

At one end of the platform 12 is secured a tray member 26, which is generally L-shaped formation for receiving the sugar product dispensed by said device. Adjacent the opposite end of said base 12 is a pillow block or other suitable upright 28 providing a bearing for the shaft 30. A pair of concentrically arranged drums 32 and 34 are secured together and closed off at one end thereof by the end wall 36. To the outside surface of the end wall 36 is attached a flange 37 to which the shaft 30 is keyed or otherwise fixedly connected.

The opposite end of the concentrically arranged drums is open as indicated at 40. Said drums are angularly 3,319,825 Patented May 16, 1967 disposed so that the open end of the drums is elevated relative to the closed end 36. Thus, the open end 40 is the uppermost end and is suitably arranged relative to a hopper 42 supported from the upper wall 44 of the cabinet for filling the innermost drum 34. As seen in FIG. 1, the upper funnel end 44 of the hopper 42 is located exterior of the cabinet or casing 14.

Secured on the outer circumference of the drum 34 is a metal plate 50 in the form of a screw thread or helix so as to provide a worm feed. The drum 34 has a plurality of openings 52 strategically arranged each between a pair of adjacent threads through which the lumps of sugar 53can pass for dropping between the threads of the worm 50. There is a diaphragm 54, best seen in FIG. 3, which is located at the uppermost end of the worm feed 50 to close off the drive channel thereof. At this end, the drum 34 has a throat or opening 56 which connects with the upper end of a drop chute 58, secured diametrically across the open end 40 of said drums.

Referring to 'FIG. 1, the motor 22 has a drive shaft 60 mounting a friction wheel 62, the circumference of which engages the outer circumference of the drum 32. Thus, rotation of the wheel 62 has the effect of a friction clutch which drives the concentrically arranged drums 32 and 34 when the motor 22 is energized.

To operate said device 10, a coin is dropped through the slot 17 to energize the motor 22 in a conventional manner. The drums 32 and 34 are rotated thereby in the direction of the arrow 64 seen in FIG. 3. The sugar lumps will have fallen through the openings 52 into the helical channels or canals of the worm feed 50 so that rotation of the drums causes the lumps of sugar to climb to the uppermost position of the drums seen in FIG. 3 wherein the chute 58 is vertically arranged. -A lump of sugar S will fall through the throat 56 into the chute 58 to fall into the tray 26. Such a lump or lumps of sugar are shown diagrammatically at S.

The amount of angular rotation of the drums for dropping the lump of sugar S into the chute is a very simple matter to establish. Further, after a lump of sugar passes through the chute 58, it contacts a springloaded plate 70 pivotally connected at the lower end of the chute 58. The plate 70 can have a switch arm 72 which will engage a contact on the micro-switch 74 when said arm 72 reaches the dotted or broken outline position thereof shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the microswitch 74 is opened so as to open the circuit to the motor so that rotation of the drums 32 and 34 is discontinued. It will be appreciated that the electrical components 76 and 76' are diagrammatical illustrations of a suitable electrical circuit for accomplishing deenergization of the motor.

The screw thread or worm S0 is spaced from the outer drum 32 a small distance so as to provide a clearance channel or space 78 for particles of sugar 80 to fall by gravity to the lower end of the drum and be collected in the tray 82 after the particles 80 fall through the opening 84 in said outer drum.

It is believed that the invention has been described in sufficient detail to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. The invention has been distinctly pointed out in the appended claims in language intended to be broadly construed commensurate with the advance in the arts and sciences contributed thereby.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lump-sugar dispensing machine comprising, a cabinet having a coin slot and coin operated actuating means, a motor connected to be actuated by said means, a pair of concentric drums having opposite aligned ends journalled for rotation in the interior of the cabinet on a canted axis disposing one end of the drums vertically displaced above the opposite end thereof, said motor connected to rotate said drums concurrently, said opposite end of the drums being closed and said one end of the drums being open, the outer circumference of the inner drum being spaced from the inner circumference of the other drum, helical feed means in said space extending between said ends of the drum, said inner drum having access openings in the circumferential wall thereof communicating with said worm feed means, a chute secured diametrically across said open end in communication with said feed means for receiving lump sugar therein when said chute is vertically oriented, and a receiving tray aligned with said chute accessible from exterior of the cabinet.

2. A machine as described in claim 1 in which said cabinet is removable, electrical switch means associated with said chute and connected to said motor for stopping the motor after lump sugar has been dispensed from the chute.

3. A machine as described in claim 1 in which said helical feed means is spaced from the outer drum to provide a clearance space and said outer drum has an opening adjacent said lower closed end for discharging sugar particles accommodated in said clearance space.

4. A machine as described in claim 1 in which said motor has a driven friction wheel engaging the outer drum to rotate the same.

5. A machine as described in claim 1 in which there is a feed hopper having a mouth exterior of the cabinet and a discharge opening into said inner drum through said open end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,484 12/1904 Fraser 221-277 X 951,412 3/1910 Baltzer 221-217 X 1,224,942 5/1917 Lorentzen 221-196 X 1,969,112 8/1934 Aronson 221-209 2,060,182 11/1936 Dellaree 221-182 X 2,341,265 2/ 1944 Crawford 198-30 X 3,206,063 9/ 1965 Ricard et a1. 221-182 X FOREIGN PATENTS 197,423 4/ 1958 Austria.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LUMP-SUGAR DISPENSING MACHINE COMPRISING, A CABINET HAVING A COIN SLOT AND COIN OPERATED ACTUATING MEANS, A MOTOR CONNECTED TO BE ACTUATED BY SAID MEANS, A PAIR OF CONCENTRIC DRUMS HAVING OPPOSITE ALIGNED ENDS JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CABINET ON A CANTED AXIS DISPOSING ONE END OF THE DRUMS VERTICALLY DISPLACED ABOVE THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID MOTOR CONNECTED TO ROTATE SAID DRUMS CONCURRENTLY, SAID OPPOSITE END OF THE DRUMS BEING CLOSED AND SAID ONE END OF THE DRUMS BEING OPEN, THE OUTER CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE INNER DRUM BEING SPACED FROM THE INNER CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE OTHER DRUM, HELICAL FEED MEANS IN SAID SPACE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ENDS OF THE DRUM, SAID INNER DRUM HAVING ACCESS OPENINGS IN THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WALL THEREOF COMMUNICATING WITH SAID WORM FEED MEANS, A CHUTE SECURED 